A/N: I know, who would have thought that I'd do something this crazy as put Steve in a relationship? Well, just kind of go with it, because it'll lead up to some Tony Steve talking/teasing time, that moves the plot along, somehow. All will be explained my Pooh Bears! As will the reason why Nathan stays with them all the time, and it's not just for Kaia. Sometimes there is a method to my madness. Sometimes. I hope you enjoy!
I don't own The Avengers, Loki, Iron Man, or anything of the like. Just the thoughts inside my head, and Kaia, Gabby, and Nathan. And taking some personal freedoms with mythology and lore.
Gabby was on her back with her arm over her face as she tried to sleep off the air sickness. Tony had told Steve that she was back and she was sick and he volunteered immediately to check on her. Somehow Tony managed to hold back his smiles until Steve was gone from the room. Now he sat in his lab watching the security feed into the main living room.
Steve approached Gabby slowly and gently shook his shoulder. Tony started laughing and fell out of his chair when Gabby's hand had shot up, smacking Steve in the nose.
"Oh my- Steve!" Gabby sat up and put her hands on the sides of his face and turned his head to look for any damage. "I'm sorry! I thought you might have been Uncle Tony or uncle Loki."
"Not that I'd recommend doing that to them either," he smiled at her a little and her features softened a little. He sniffed a little and put a finger under nose. "No damage, not that you didn't give it your best shot."
Tony was trying to catch his breath and pulled himself up off the floor and saw that Steve had wrapped an arm around Gabby's shoulders and pulled her into him. He kissed her cheek and he swore that both of them were blushing. As he wiped a tear away from laughing he changed the camera to see that Kaia had fallen asleep with her head in Nathan's lap, who had fallen asleep with his head on the back of the couch they were sitting on. He raised an eyebrow but shrugged.
"Did they tell you it wasn't Hammer that you saw yesterday?" Steve and Gabby were leaning back against the couch, Gabby's eyes closed.
"Yeah," she nodded a little. "Someone named Hela?" She felt Steve nod. "But I don't understand much about her. I wasn't really around when she was tormenting you guys."
"She didn't show up often, but she made her intentions know, kind of." Gabby raised an eyebrow as she opened her eyes to look at him. "The only thing we know for certain is that she was after Kaia, and apparently still is."
"Hasn't it been like ten years, though?" Gabby questioned. She was glad that she was not a superhero, she could never understand villains.
"Everything we know about her motives or movements is little to nothing. The only thing we do know is that she is Thor and Loki's sister, and watches over the souls of the dead," Steve shrugged a little. "I'd be a little worried if she targeted all three of you though."
"I guess I'll just have to stay here," Gabby smiled a little, shyly. "Where I know that there's a hero or two to watch over me." Steve blushed a little but pulled Gabby tighter into his chest.
"You're very own super soldier to watch out for you."
"I think I'm gonna be sick," They jumped and turned when Clint walked through the room. "You're going to be paying for this in training. Both of you."
-
Tony found Loki out by the pool and wrapped his arms around Loki's waist, dropping his head on his shoulder. "Darling, can I-"
"No," Loki cut him off and Tony blinked.
"How did you know I was even talking about sex?" Tony had to ask.
"You only ever call me darling when you want something, or have bad news to tell me," Loki turned his head slightly to look at Tony. "We have been together now for almost 15 years, I think I know a little something about you."
There was a cleared throat behind them and the couple turned to see Nathan standing there, cheeks a little red. "So while I didn't mean to hear any of that," Nathan cleared his throat a little, "Clint sent me out here to get you two because food is almost ready." The older men raised an eyebrow at the teen when he didn't walk away right away.
"There is a burning question furrowing behind your eyes," Loki said to him.
"Well, you two have been together, like you said for almost 15 years, and I had to wonder about something," Nathan rubbed the back of his head. "You two don't look like you've aged a day, in fact none of the Avengers do."
Loki chuckled a little and pulled away from Tony, who pouted. He pat Nathan on the head as he headed inside. "It's all in the apples, and Iddun's recipes." Nathan blinked and looked at Tony, who shrugged a little.
"Ancient, guarded Asgardian secrets. I'm not complaining," Tony said he followed suit, walking in for food. Of course Tony knew, he had been with Loki when they had received the golden apples as a gift from Odin and Frigga. And if he got to stay this devilishly handsome for a while, then he'd eat as many apple creations Loki could come up with.
-
Loki wandered down the stairs as he yawned and saw Tony sitting in a chair while he worked on a blueprint that could have been for the Iron Man suit. Loki waved his hand over the door and it unlocked allowing him in. "It's late," Tony turned at Loki's voice.
"Yeah, I just had some ideas and I wanted to get them recorded before I forgot them," Tony said turning back to the blueprints. Loki walked over and leaned his head on top of Tony's. "You didn't buy that did you?"
"Not in the slightest. Your mind seems troubled," Loki had started to rub his shoulders a little.
"It's nothing, which you of course will know is a lie." Loki nodded. "This just isn't how I had wanted everyone to be gathered her for the holidays. Tense and on the look out for an attack."
"It's how the Avengers usually spend every holiday," Loki informed him. "This is nothing new."
"Well, it's never really been this personal before," Tony countered, sighing. Loki frowned a little as he watched Tony closely.
"Are you bothered by Hela's words?" He know that Tony had tried to hide it when they heard Hela's voice again. When she had told him that he could do nothing to help his family, because he was mortal, with no powers, unlike his lover and child. "They hold no merit nor truth," Loki turned the chair was in around to face him. "You have proven time and again that there is nothing that would stop you to defend this family, Avengers included. She is full of words, using them to bring about the little bit of weakness in our amour that she would need."
"Yeah, I know," Tony sighed a little then smiled softly up at Loki. "Just the idle wonderings of a genius."
"Sir, I thought I would inform you that Mr Black is awake," JARVIS interrupted them.
"Nathanial?" Loki raised an eyebrow.
"You get back to bed, you're still tired," Tony stood up and started to usher him out of the lab. "I'll go check on the kid, I'll be up in a little bit, okay?" Loki turned the eyebrow to Tony, but the smalelr man merely kissed his cheek. "Go." Loki sighed as they both walked up the stairs, but Loki kept going as Tony walked into the main room to see Nathan standing by the window.
"Bit late for teenagers to be up isn't it?" Nathan jumped a little when he heard Tony's voice.
"Bit late for anyone to be up isn't it?" Nathan retaliated in his worn t-shirt and sweatpants.
"I don't sleep sometimes," Tony shrugged and walked over to stand next to the boy. "So what's keeping you up? Surely not the same things that keep me up at night."
"I just couldn't sleep," Nathan kicked at nothing with his socked feet. Tony watched the kid for a minute.
"Come on down," Tony offered and Nathan looked at him in confusion. "Down to my lab," he clarified. "You know you're way around cars, well, I've got a couple of cars down there just begging to be looked at." Nathan's eyes lit up a little and Tony chuckled, seeing the inner engineer in the kid.
"You're serious? I mean, you don't let anyone in your personal labs." Nathan knew his stuff. Tony couldn't deny that his mothers had raised him in a right proper young teenager. Tony had to stop himself from laughing sometimes when he thought about Kaia and Nathan. A girl being raised by two men and a boy being raised by two women? It was like fate was having a funny day.
"You're gonna turn this prestigious invitation down?" Nathan's eyes widened a little and he shook his head. Tony rolled his eyes and started to head back down the stairs with the boy right behind him.
-
Loki and Kaia stepped into the lab, eyebrows raised, and look at the two men in the room. Nathan had fallen asleep underneath one of Tony's cars, oil and grease covering most of his clothes, while Tony had fallen asleep inside of the backseat of the car, legs hanging over the door.
"I think they were bonding?" Even Kaia sounded skeptical of her own words.
"I think that your father was getting free labor," Loki corrected. He walked over and pushed Tony's leg until it fell inside the car and Tony slipped off the seat and onto the floor. He yelped and the car jerked and Nathan flew up, hitting his head on frame of the car. He fell onto his back again and started to moan. "And there wasn't even any alcohol involved."
"Not for lack of thinking about it," Tony grumbled.
Kaia shook her head and pulled Nathan out from under the car. "You're absolutely filthy," she looked him up and down. "You can't come to breakfast like this."
"Use the shower in the bathroom," Tony's hand appeared from over the car door and he pointed towards the private bathroom.
"And what about you?" Loki asked, leaning over to look at the inventor.
"I'm not covered in car crap," Tony retaliated. Kaia had helped Nathan up and looked at her dirty hands. There wasn't a spot to wipe it on Nathan so she walked over and wiped her hands on the front of Tony's shirt. "Well, I wasn't." Kaia's eyes widened a little when Tony started to sit up and she tried to jump back but he managed to grab her shoulder.
"No! I don't want sweaty, dirty Daddy germs on me!" She tried to wiggle away but Tony grabbed onto her arms as he stood up. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her up and into his chest, twisting back and forth as she she squealed.
"I am not sweaty," Tony said. "And I wasn't dirty until someone decided to make me."
"You always get sweaty when you're working in your lab." She whined then looked at Loki and held out her arms. "Help meeeeeeee."
Loki took a step back and smirked at them. "I have taken my shower this morning, and I prefer to not have to take more than one shower in a two hour window. I'm sorry, my daughter, but alas I must leave you to your fate." Kaia started to pout even as she pushed at Tony's arms.
"I took my shower too!" Kaia scrunched up her face. She suddenly went limp in Tony's arms and his eyes widened a little as he stumbled forward. Kaia's feet hit the ground and she managed to pull away from Tony and he caught his balance again.
Loki watched her, taking a step to the side when she got closer. "Don't even think about it," he warned her. Kaia suddenly launched herself at him, wrapping herself tightly around his waist, and Tony started to laugh. Kaia reached a hand up and smeared the rest of the grease on Loki's cheek. His eyes widened a little and Kaia let go, running back over to the car.
"I'm not saving you," Tony announced, still standing in the backseat of the car. "Hey, hey!" Kaia climbed in the car and stood behind him, using him as a shield.
Gabby watched with a smile from the top of the stairs. She had come to see what was taking them all so long to come for breakfast, when they had sent Loki and Kaia down in the first place. She jumped a little when she felt a hand on her shoulder and smiled when she saw Steve take a seat next to her.
"What's going on down here?" He returned her smile before looking in the lab. Loki was trying to reach for Kaia and Tony was trying to get away from both of them. Dirty rags were being thrown around and they thought they heard Tony yelling something about his car.
"Well, as far as I can tell, Kaia got Tony dirty, who then got her dirty, who then got Loki dirty. And now this little messed up family is out for revenge." Gabby chuckled a little.
"Who got Kaia dirty?" Steve asked.
"I think it was Nathan," Gabby offered. "I saw him wander into the bathroom when I can down here. I think the boys were working on the car and fell asleep." At that moment Nathan had stepped out of the bathroom with some new clothes borrowed from Tony on, and towel drying his hair. "Oh, this should be good."
Nathan looked over at the three and they stopped to look at him. "He's clean!" Kaia suddenly pointed at Nathan and his eyes widened.
"I didn't do anything!" He threw himself back towards the bathroom.
"JARVIS!" Tony yelled and the bathroom door shut in time for Nathan to smack into it full force.
"That looked like it hurt," Steve muttered a little. Gabby chuckled a little and leaned against his side. He watched her face as she watched the family in the lab. He loved how utterly expressive her face always was, and how her eyes shone when she was happy or laughing. He bit his lip a little and leaned in kissing her cheek.
Gabby blinked a little then turned to look at him and took his hand. "What was that for?" Steve shrugged a little and Gabby chuckled a little. "I guess I'll have to return the favor." She leaned in for his cheek and Steve suddenly turned, cupping her cheek, letting their lips meet. Gabby blinked but smiled and closed her eyes, leaning into Steve's hand and lips.
"Ewwwwwww," They jumped apart at the voice that was just down the stairs. "Uncle Steve and Gabby are kissing!" Kaia had her face scrunched up in mock disgust, the other three men standing behind her.
"Thank god we're not related by blood," Tony said, not bothering to hide his devious smile. "Then I'd have to be related to Spangles here." Tony grunted when Loki elbowed his chest, even though he shared the same smile.
"How is there no privacy in this huge house!" Gabby exclaimed as they both turned red.
"I think that you were actually spying on us first," Nathan told her.
"Yes, we came out to find you two sitting on the stairs," Loki completed.
"I did not condone any public displays of affection," Tony pointed at them.
"Again?" The looked up at the door to see Clint standing there. "Because yesterday wasn't enough to try and make me sick?" He threw up his hand and walked away.